(Carson City, NV, March 3, 2010) — With hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding at stake, Nevada is teaming up with some of the most exciting athletes in the world to convince Nevadans of the importance of participating in the 2010 Census. As we quickly approach National Census Day on April 1, a lot remains at stake for Nevada and its residents. That’s why the State of Nevada is launching an aggressive advertising campaign scheduled to begin next week. Nevada’s largest sports organization, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, is partnering with the state to help ensure a complete count in the census.

"Although the census is a national process, its effects have a significant impact locally," said Secretary Miller, chairman of the Statewide Complete Count Committee. "The importance of responding to the census cannot be overstated – a complete count means Nevada will receive its fair share in federal funding. To have the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Nevada’s largest and most successful sports team, on board as a public partner reinforces the importance of responding to the census."

Ultimate Fighting Championship® embraces the 2010 Census as a great opportunity to obtain more funding for the state where its headquarters are located. As a partner of the Nevada Census 2010 campaign, UFC® has donated all production and talent toward a 30-second commercial spot. As a successful Nevada business and brand valued at $800 million, UFC® hopes to reach its diverse audience and encourages everyone to fill out and return their census forms.

"UFC is proud to support the Nevada Census 2010 campaign," said Dana White, UFC president. "This is the home of the UFC, and we want to give back in a way that benefits everyone in Nevada."

Additional television commercials produced by Weber Shandwick will begin airing in every Nevada household starting March 10. The spot titled "How Many?" speaks to the importance of a complete count as it relates to the future of Nevada. Local schoolchildren in the Clark County School District were cast for the 30-second spot. A seven-foot-tall Plexiglas representation of Nevada was built as a prop for the commercial and filled with marbles to represent our population. Still photography from the video shoot will be featured in outdoor advertising, including bus wraps, shelters and within buses.

As well as saturating the marketing with Nevada Census advertising, Nevada-based public relations firm The Ferraro Group is working extensively to provide earned and social media support statewide for the campaign. The Ferraro Group is managing the state’s "Trusted Voices" grassroots campaign, providing messaging and resources for members of the community to spread the word about the importance of the census.

Data collected from census results helps determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding is spent each year on state-level infrastructure and services across the country. Nevada loses $917 in federal funding each year for the next ten years for each man, woman and child who is not counted during the 2010 Census.

The 2010 Census is only ten questions and should take about ten minutes to complete. It only asks for basic information and does not include questions about financial information, social security numbers, or any other personal identification information. More information about the 2010 Nevada Census can be found at www.NevadaCensus2010.com.